The Rise of Polyworking and the Multi-Career Life
I’ve been hearing a lot lately about polyworkers, portfolio life, and other new terms that reflect how the world of work is changing.
Our parents often spent their entire careers in a single profession, sometimes with the same employer from start to retirement. A few decades later, we’re talking about moonlighters, zigzaggers, and multihyphenates (read Nora’s book review to learn more).?
How we work is evolving—not just in terms of infrastructure.
Work isn’t just about getting a paycheck anymore. It’s a source of fulfillment, meant to keep us engaged and healthy, and it doesn’t always come with a monetary reward.
Instead of a brick that ties you to one place or profession for life, work is now more like a puzzle that requires thoughtful care from us. We’ve moved from the burnout generation to one that seeks fulfillment in work—juggling several jobs, experimenting with gig projects, and integrating everything into the same universe: our lives, as it should be.
And it’s not happening only in advanced economies or big-city lifestyles. Just recently, I took an Uber in Asia to the airport, and the driver mentioned he works in insurance, with ridesharing as his side gig.
According to Owl Labs’ report, over one in four workers (28%) are polyworking with at least one additional job, and 42% aren’t polyworking yet but plan to start in the next year or would like to.
Polyworking is everywhere now. People want to do more, try more, and develop beyond a single profession for life.
Thinking about how you’re working today, is your work life a mix of projects or a one-role show?
Anca Serban, Head of Marketing @Pluria
Thought Leadership
KPMG global tech report 2024 (KPMG)
2024 Global Human Capital Trends | Romania (Deloitte)
Navigating EU Taxonomy progress and pathways to compliance (KPMG)
The Survey of Working Arrangements and Attitudes - October 2024 (WFH Research)
11th Annual Talent Acquisition Trends Report (Korn Ferry)
The Path to AI Everywhere: Exploring the Human Challenges (Unit4)
Future of Work News
Remote and Hybrid Work Trends
The Year In Remote Work—2024’s Biggest Shifts (Forbes)
16 Latest Trends Show How Your Work Has Changed Forever (Forbes)
Why Polyworking Is The Future Of Work And How To Become A Polyworker (Forbes)
?Employee Wellbeing and Productivity
3 Ways to Temper Your Hypervigilance at Work (HBR)
Missed deadlines lead people to judge work more harshly (The Guardian)
A Guide to Handing Off Work Before a Vacation (HBR)
4 Work Habits To Develop Before The Year Ends (Forbes)
?Workplace Culture and Leadership
How WFH Can Actually Strengthen Bonds Between Coworkers (HBR)
How leaders can create a culture where people see work as its own reward (Fast Company)
Talent and Workforce Management
Want Gen Z in the Office? Offer Commuting, Clothing Stipends (Entrepreneur)
Digital reputation in the C-suite: 4 strategies for effective CEO reputation management (Fast Company)
Podcasts
Big Tech Wants You Back in the Office (Wired)
What’s really behind Big Tech’s return-to-office mandates? (The Verge)
Pluria Blog
Before 9 and after 5, and in between
Photo by Ahmad Dirini.